Evangeline walked through a dense forest, the sun filtering through the canopy, casting dappled patterns on the ground. The air was warm and fragrant with the scent of pine and wildflowers. She felt a sense of calm wash over her, a welcome reprieve from the constant vigilance and struggle of the past months.
Ahead, she spotted a clearing where a familiar figure stood, waiting. Her heart leapt as she recognized Ben-her Ben, strong and steady as ever. He looked just as he did in her most cherished memories, his dark eyes filled with warmth and determination. She quickened her pace, feeling an overwhelming rush of emotion at the sight of him.
"Benny!" she called out, her voice breaking with a mix of joy and sorrow.
Ben turned, his face lighting up with a smile that melted away the tension she had been carrying. He opened his arms, and she ran into them, burying her face in his chest. For a moment, the world felt right again, and she let herself savor the feeling of being held by the man she had loved so deeply.
"Eva," he murmured, his voice a soothing balm. "I've missed you."
She pulled back slightly, looking up at him. "I've missed you too, Benny. So much." Her eyes welled with tears, but she blinked them away, not wanting to waste a single moment.
Ben gently cupped her face in his hands, his thumbs brushing away the stray tears that had escaped. "I know it's been hard, Eva. But you have to keep going. You have to stay strong."
Evangeline frowned, sensing a note of urgency in his voice. "What do you mean, Benny? What's happening?"
His expression grew serious, the warmth in his eyes giving way to concern. "Danger is closer than you think, Eva. You can't let your guard down, not even for a moment. They're looking for you, and they're getting closer."
A chill ran down her spine, the peacefulness of the forest fading as Ben's words sank in. "Who, Benny? Who's looking for me?"
A chill ran down her spine, the peacefulness of the forest fading as Ben's words sank in. "Who, Benny? Who's looking for me?"
Ben's expression remained unchanged, as if he hadn't heard her question. He continued speaking, his voice calm and steady. "You know, Eva, I've been thinking a lot about Charlotte. I'm so angry with my parents for what they did, taking her away like that. She deserves to be with you, with us."
Evangeline frowned, her confusion growing. "Benny, what are you talking about? Who's after me?"
He seemed to ignore her question again, his eyes distant as he spoke. "Charlotte has your spirit, Eva. She's strong, just like her mother. I hate that she's with my parents. They have no right to keep her from you."
Evangeline's heart ached at the mention of their daughter. "I know, Benny. I miss her so much. But why won't you answer me? Who's coming for me?"
Ben's gaze finally met hers, and she saw a flicker of something dark and unsettling in his eyes. "You have to stay strong, Eva. You can't let them break you. For Charlotte's sake. She needs you to find her."
Before she could respond, Ben turned and sprinted deeper into the forest. Evangeline's heart lurched, and she took off after him. The underbrush clawed at her legs as she ran, the branches above seeming to close in, casting long, eerie shadows. The moonlight barely penetrated the dense canopy, but she could still make out Ben's figure darting through the trees ahead of her.
"Benny! Wait!" she called out, her voice echoing in the stillness. But he didn't slow down.
Her lungs burned, each breath coming in ragged gasps. She could hear the pounding of her heart, the crunch of leaves and twigs underfoot, and the distant call of nocturnal creatures. The forest seemed alive, whispering secrets and warnings as she pushed forward, determined not to lose him.
YOU ARE READING
Loyalty Divided
ФанфикEvangeline Thornton is a wanderer. At 14, her life was shattered when her family was murdered by bandits during a robbery. Taken captive by the outlaws, she endured unimaginable hardships. After escaping, she spent years drifting from town to town...
